It's September and I have backyard cottage update!
The first round of design corrections by the city went through and we just had to tweak a couple of things. The architect resubmitted the design last week with corrections made and we are just waiting to hear back. The second round also required two important factors: 1. Name/info. of contractor. 2. An arborist report on the trees in my entire yard plus the trees in all three backyard neighbors' yards.
Contractor requirements: The city of Seattle is now requiring that 'new construction' projects have a licensed/bonded/insured contractor as the city does not want homeowners hiring their dipshit cousin or building things themselves anymore...turns out too many bungles and poorly done jobs and the city is sick of it. Can you put a contractor name/info on a 'new construction' application and then not use that person when it's time to do the project...yes. The city isn't going to know either way once you start construction, but they want it documented for their records. As long as the work passes inspection, it doesn't matter who actually did the work.
I am also pleased to report that my architect, contractor and arborist are all queer women! I am so over working with men who mansplain, egos to the moon, hit on me, hang out when they are being paid to work and otherwise make me feel uncomfortable in my own home. Not worried about being raped by my female arborist. If this is a shock for the men to read, then I suggest you start paying women to explain things to you about how things are for us. I say 'pay' because our time and expertise are valuable - pretend you're paying a consultant if that helps you wrap your head around it. Yeah, I'm calling it out.
Next, arborist report: Turns out, the city is super anal about trees...or at least they pretend to be. When it comes to new construction, the city wants to know where every damn tree is located - my yard and all three of my neighbors. Why? They don't want any construction project damaging/killing any trees, especially 'exceptional' trees. I'm down with that. Makes sense. However, this also includes crappy little trees that neighbors ignore, don't arbor and are more of a nuisance than a really well cared for tree. A maple sapling that has been allowed to grow for no other reason than laziness by a neighbor can end up being the reason a new construction project is not allowed to go forward. My advice is, do not plant trees along fence lines as the tree itself may be in your yard but the drip line (the radius of the overhanging canopy which is where the tree gets a majority of its water intake) is hanging into your neighbor's yard and now your neighbor is screwed because the 'drip line' is where the trees drinking roots are located. Any construction that disturbs/damages these roots will kill the tree. Side note: only baby trees have a 'tap root'. Adult tree roots grow out not down. All of my neighbors, with trees in their yards, were kind enough to allow my arborist to enter their yards to measure diameter of trunks, measure canopies and document any damaged trees. I got lucky and none of my neighbors' trees will be affected by my project! It was close though. The neighbor to the north has an exceptional eucalyptus tree and the neighbor to the east has an exceptional redwood but the drip lines are just barely out of harm's way even though the trees are nowhere near our shared property lines...roots grow long! Another side note: sometimes you will see a tree trunk being protected with a wooden barrier/box during a construction project (this is typically seen during the construction of apt complexes or major road work) and just know that the barrier/box is actually bullshit and is not protecting the trees drip line. The contractor is getting away with something as that barrier/box should actually extend to encompass the trees canopy and isn't really protecting the tree...it's just for show. It does protect the trunk, which is a very good thing, but a tree can survive some trunk damage but not damage to the roots where it gets its nutrients.
Fun things: my lady contractor was doing some research on windows and came across a really cool thing that some of you may have seen/have: a window that turns into a balcony! VELUX CABRIO™ Balcony Windows | Deck Mounted (veluxusa.com). Unfortunately, the roof of our design is way too steep for this model, but the architect suggested this: VELUX Top Hinged Roof Windows | High Knee Walls (veluxusa.com). This design is still very nice and it's important to me that the loft space has an easement for escape in case of fire and also for ventilation.
And finally, the cottage has an official address! Yes, there will be no A or B or 1/2, it has its own grown-up address. This makes it feel more real to me and official as the U.S. government recognizes it (the post office).
